SPARKS

[Judes]

So, being a recent convert and having started to Go On to my friends and acquaintances about Sparks, my friend said to send her a list of tracks to introduce them.

This is the list I came up with: a spread from their whole career to date, showing the range of their different styles (musical and vocal), humorous/interesting lyrics, nothing too avant garde. There are some real favourites of mine that are missing off the list, but I started out thinking I would have 8 and I struggled to keep it to a dozen. At the very last minute I subbed in Pulling Rabbits for All You Ever Think About Is Sex because it's just become my (temporary) absolute favourite and although All You Ever Think About is fantastic (and I'd chosen a live version from this year's tour), Rabbits feels more immediately 'different' - more dramatic therefore more Sparksian somehow.

What do people think: does this do the job? What would be on your list? Could you narrow it down to fewer than 12?

1974 This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us
1974 Something For The Girl With Everything
1979 Tryouts For The Human Race
1984 Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat
1994 When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way'
1994 I Thought I Told You To Wait In The Car
2002 The Rhythm Thief
2006 Dick Around
2008 Good Morning
2017 Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)
2023 Take Me for a Ride
2025 Running Up A Tab At The Hotel For The Fab

[Crabby]

Much as l would love to join in with these list questions, l know l would have a breakdown in the process.....l don't even know what Sparks songs l like best.....
I quite agree with your selection though...

[PETER RAWCLIFFE]

Very difficult Judes and i agree with Crabby that i don't even know what my faves are really cos different moods and times can make me like certain songs or albums or even like an album more that i did originally.
I got into Sparks with the more natural way of seeing them on Top of pops and warming to this wonderful group plus also loving the B sides to singles like Marry me and Alabamy right and wanting more and more of this group.Also Sparks beauty for me was listening to whole albums with the lyric sheet and just being amazed at how good the songs were,The lyrics seemed to make the songs masterpieces.I just wanted more and more of them.
Anyway i could ramble but what would i like if i was in your friends position that would get me into Sparks is so tricky and i'm not sure one song from each album is better than actually saying to her "hey give this album a listen and read the lyrics as you listen".The problem you still have there is actually picking the right album to start her on..Good luck trying to convert her though and at least you are spreading the word.Hope she finds out what we fans all know is that Sparks are one of the best groups ever.


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WRITTEN OF COURSE BY THE MIGHTIEST HAND

[SteveBoyce]

Forgetting the "favourite tracks" aspect and just making a representative list over the years, there are only 2 changes I would make

Substitute one of the original group's tracks e.g. Fletcher Honorama for Something for the Girl...

At least incorporate one track from either Seduction or Annette, e.g. the Aria from Annette or Garbo Sings from Seduction, just for example